It’s clear that our world—globally and locally—has changed dramatically since Plymouth’s Antiracism Committee first offered a study of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ The 1619 Project in January 2020. Two years ago, we hardly had an inkling of how a viral pandemic, presidential election, police brutality and the murder of George Floyd along with the eruption of street protests across the country and around the world would shake and shape our days, our lives, our perspective and outlook.
Our nation continues to grapple with our complicated history. Conversations in a faith community can bring about a richness of understanding around the legacy of 1619. Plymouth United Church of Christ in Des Moines, Iowa has been engaging in meaningful conversations around diversity and race to better understand anti-racism as a spiritual practice. To further these conversations, Plymouth is offering the church and broader community an opportunity to learn more through the 1619 Project Revisited, an examination of how the legacy of slavery continues to shape our country. By realizing the complexity of our nation’s history, we will honor our individual and collective journeys toward understanding the legacy of slavery and white supremacy culture.
1619 Project Revisited will take place January 24-March 7 (no meeting February 14) from 6:30-8:15 PM on Mondays. All sessions will be live online experiences via Zoom and will be recorded for asynchronous viewing. This program is Open to ALL and will be meaningful to anyone who participated in 2020 as well as new participants.
Participants can expect to read the 1619 Project essays published in The New York Times, listen to podcasts and musical performances, watch videos, learn from speakers, and engage in small-group discussions around the idea of America, the wealth gap, medical inequality, mass incarceration, education malpractice and undemocratic democracy. Each session will offer advocacy ideas and action steps. An updated bibliography will be shared to lead to further study, thought and engagement.
Because registration for Plymouth’s 1619 Project Revisited is limited due to ZOOM capacity, early registration tiny.cc/1619-revisited is strongly recommended. Registration will close on January 10 (or sooner if registration is filled).